2008 Interviews

9th January 2008

1.  News of Kenya
The Irish Missionary Union (IMU), representing 87 Irish Missionary groups both lay and religious, has condemned the violence being inflicted on the peoples of Kenya and Pakistan in recent weeks and calls for a renewed commitment to addressing poverty and injustice as the only path to long term stability in these lands.  The Kiltegan Order, St. Patrick’s Missionary Society has over 60 priests in Kenya  -  Eileen Good asked their Superior General Fr. Seamus O’Neill if he was surprised at how quickly the violence there had escalated.

2.  My Anam Cara
John O’Donohue, former priest, poet, philosopher and best selling author died suddenly in France on January 3rd. 2008.  Best known for his book Anam Cara, of which his readers said “...he put words on things they have felt”. His friend of over 30 years, Fr. Pat O’Brien, spoke to Eileen Good about his memories of John O’Donohue.

3. World Day for Refugees and Migrants
Sunday the 13th of January is a day to pray for Refugees and Migrants all over the world.  Deo Ladislas Ndakengerwa is a refuge living in Ireland from Rwanda.  He left Rwanda fleeing from genocide where 1,000,000 people were killed in just 100 days and where he had to walk through thousands of miles of jungle to escape.  It is a reality too shocking for most us to imagine.  Here he tells his story to Miriam Gormally. 

4. Teaching in America
Ever wanted to be a teacher or work in a Catholic school in America?  ACE, the Alliance for Catholic Education offers a 26-month Master in Education from Notre Dame with teaching experience in Catholic schools across America.  The course explores teaching as part of a wider social and community project.  Jonathan Tiernan decided that this was just the opportunity he was looking for to learn more about education and explore his own spirituality.  Miriam Gormally asked Jonathan Tiernan how he was received in Notre Dame when he first went out.

5.  Christian Unity Week
This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  The week runs from January 18th - 25th and this year the chosen theme is ‘Pray without Ceasing.’   Miriam Gormally met up with Rev. Patrick Comerford to learn more about Christian Unity and began by asking him if ecumenism has become a dead theme.

6.  Traditional Airs
Brigid Tunney comes from a long line of traditional singers who passed their songs down from generation to generation.  As a teenager she loved singing and being involved with sessions, but then she became a Loreto sister and her life became more involved with teaching.  However for the last two years she has been on a career break and decided to revive the songs she used to hear as a child and to record them.  Miriam Gormally met Brigid Tunney and asked her why she decided to bring these songs to a wider audience. 

7.  SPRED
Celebration and sacred services should be open to anyone who wishes to partake.  Spred is an organisation that makes sure nobody is left behind.  It is a network of services set up to allow people with educational difficulties to worship.  Miriam Gormally asked Críona Considine, a Dominican nun who works with Spred, to explain what it was all about.

8.  Life in Indonesia
Oblate priest Fr. Charlie Burrows is parish priest in Cilacap in Indonesia – a country which is 96% Islamic.  Fr. Charlie believes that the way forward in such a situation is  “...for change of heart on all sides if there is to be progress in inter-faith dialogue and for all religions to become vessels of peace and understanding.”  Eileen Good spoke to him and asked him first how he ended up in Indonesia.

9.  Reflection on Meditation
Meditation is increasingly becoming more popular as a way to unwind and clear the mind.  John Main was a very important figure in reviving the Christian Meditation.  Here Eamon gives us an insight into why one should meditate and some practical guidelines on how to get started.

10.  Film Reviews
Our regular film reviewer Fr. Peter O’Connor has been out and about reviewing DVD’s that the whole family can enjoy together.  This week he takes a look at Shrek 3, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Pirates of the Caribbean 3– At the World’s End.

11.  Music:  An Mhaighdean Mhara
Our music piece this week is “An Mhaighdean Mhara” from Brigid Tunney’s album “Hand in Hand”.  It’s a piece of music that Brigid says reminds her of the wide-eyed children in Darjeeling who listened to her as she sang the story of the mermaid to them at the foothills of the Himalayas.
Time:  4.01

23rd January 2008

1.  Trócaire Lenten Campaign 2008
When the Trócaire boxes appear, we know it must be Lent.  Each year they take a theme designed to make us aware of the issues facing people in developing countries.  This year their campaign is highlighting their work helping communities who are struggling to cope with the effects of climate change.  Eileen Good asked Director Justin Kilcullen about the work of Trócaire and what distinguishes it from other agencies.

2.  World Day of the Sick
The 11th of February is a day when the Church celebrates the fifteenth World Day of the Sick. It is a day to remember those who are suffering and those who live every day with illness. One person who has lived with serious illness is Catherine Thronton.  In November 1999, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Since then she has written two books, “Why Mum? A Small Child Dealing with a Big Problem” and more recently “Take Heart: Coping with Serious Illness”.  Miriam Gormally asked her how she first discovered that she had breast cancer.

3. World Youth Day
Young people all over the country are preparing for World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, through fundraising and group activities.  Trish O’Neill is World Youth Day co-ordinator for the parish of Kildare and Laughlin and she is helping young people in her parish prepare for the day. She is also helping organise events for those who are not able to go, including a pilgrimage for St. Brigid’s Day. Miriam Gormally asked her to explain what it was about. 

4. Lenten Spirituality
It’s a bit of a shock to realise that the Christmas decorations are only just down, and we have to start thinking about Lent.  In our busy world it provides us with an opportunity to take time to reflect on our lives and our relationship with God  -  but do we take the opportunity?  Eileen Good asked Carmelite Fr. Chris O’Donnell if Lent still has a relevance for us today.

5.  New Jesuit Father General
Saturday January 19th saw the General Congregation of the Society of Jesus elect Father Adolfo Nicolas as their new Father General, the 29th successor to the order’s founder Ignatius Loyola.  Eileen Good asked Fr. Fergus O’Donoghue S.J. about the Order’s new leader.

6.  150 Years at Lourdes
This year Lourdes is celebrating 150 years since Bernadette’s original apparition of the Virgin Mary.  Since then Lourdes has become the second most popular site for Christian pilgrimage, after Rome.  Some bemoan what they see as the crass commercialisation of a spiritual event and yet the site continues to draw millions of people each year.  Miriam Gormally met Franck DeLahaye, from the Lourdes office of Tourism who explained why Lourdes continues to be popular and not just with Christians. 

7.  St.  Brigid
Alongside St. Patrick, St. Brigid is one of our great Irish Saints – her feastday on February 1st. Born in 450 or 451 near Faughart, Co. Louth she is remembered for her spirituality, her charity and her compassion. In 470 she established a monastery in Kildare  -and was the inspiritation for Bishop Daniel Delaney when founding the Brigidine Order over two hundred years ago.  For many people, the Brigid’s Cross is their connection with the Saint. Eileen Good asked Brenda Kindregan, from Kildare, if the making of the cross was still popular.

8.  Temperance Sunday
The 18th of February is Temperance Sunday, a day to reflect on moderation.  It is famously dedicated to Matt Talbot who overcame his own alcohol addictions.  Bishop Eamon Walsh explained to Miriam Gormally why the fact that Temperance Sunday is in Lent makes it even more significant.  He began by talking about the recent DVD which has been launched to bring the message of moderation to young people. 
The DVD can be seen on www.dap.ie

9.  Matthew’s Gospel
Throughout this year we will hear the Gospel according to Matthew.  Fr. Philip Fogarty S.J. has just published a short booklet ‘According to Matthew’ – a Prayerful Guide to the Gospels.  Eileen Good spoke to him and asked him about Matthew and what we might expect to hear in his Gospel stories.

10.  Computers to Africa
Did you know that businesses and individuals in Ireland will throw out over 1 million working computers over the next 5 years? One of the goals of Camara is to stop these computers being dumped in Irish landfill sites and send them instead to schools and colleges in Africa. Miriam Gormally met Cormac Lynch and Owen Cosgrove from Camara to, first asking Cormac, the founder how it all started. 

If you have a computer to donate why not log on to www.camara.ie

11.  Music:   Regina Caeli
Our music piece this week is Regina Caeli from the album Biscantorat: the Sound of the Spirit from the Glenstal Monks, featuring Sinead O’Connor.